Clinical Evidence and Proposed Mechanisms for Cardiovascular and Kidney Benefits from Sodium-Glucose Co-transporter-2 Inhibitors.

The number of people living with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its complications worldwide is increasing at an alarming rate. Fortunately, our understanding of the benefits of glucose-lowering agents from the sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist classes on cardiovascular and kidney outcomes is advancing; this means we now have new options to mitigate the risks of these complications in patients with T2D. The SGLT2 inhibitors have consistently demonstrated benefits on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure (HF) events in dedicated outcome trials.

The French Military influenza surveillance system (MISS): overview of epidemiological and virological results during four influenza seasons--2008-2012.

Question Under Study: Influenza is a viral infection caused by a pathogen with considerable ability for genetic mutation, which is responsible for seasonal outbreaks as well as pandemics. This article presents the results of epidemiological and virological monitoring of four successive influenza outbreaks in the French armed forces, for the period 2008 to 2012.

Methods: The main events monitored were acute respiratory infection (ARI).

Myosin heavy chain composition of regenerated soleus muscles during hindlimb suspension.

The aim of this study was to determine the MHC profile of regenerated soleus muscles in control (C, n = 8) and hindlimb suspended rats (HS, n = 8). After muscle degeneration was induced by injection of snake venom containing notexin, male rats were either tail suspended for 21 days or submitted to normal weight-bearing activity. Separation and detection of MHCs by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyarcylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that regenerated soleus muscles from C rats contained only type I and type IIa MHCs.

Muscle damage induced by running training during recovery from hindlimb suspension: the effect of dantrolene sodium.

We examined the extent of morphological alterations and the myosin heavy chain (MHC) distribution in the rat soleus muscle after a 4-week period of spontaneous recovery or retraining after hindlimb suspension (HS). Moreover, we tested the hypothesis that dantrolene sodium, which affects the flux of calcium over the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane, was able to attenuate muscle damage. Three groups of rats were submitted to 3 weeks of HS, followed by either 4 weeks of unrestricted cage activity (HC, n = 7), or running training for the same period and were compared to age-matched animals (C, n = 8).

Quantitative assessment of degenerative changes in soleus muscle after hindlimb suspension and recovery.

The aim of this study was to quantify the degenerative and regenerative changes in rat soleus muscle resulting from 3-week hindlimb suspension at 45 degrees tilt (HS group, n = 8) and 4-week normal cage recovery (HS-R group, n = 7). Degenerative changes were quantified by microscope examination of muscle cross sections, and the myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition of soleus muscles was studied by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. At the end of 3-week hindlimb suspension, histological signs of muscle degenerative changes were detected in soleus muscles.

Endurance training affects myosin heavy chain phenotype in regenerating fast-twitch muscle.

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of treadmill training (2 h/day, 5 days/wk, 30 m/min, 7% grade for 5 wk) on the expression of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms during and after regeneration of a fast-twitch white muscle [extensor digitorum longus (EDL)]. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to a sedentary (n = 10) or an endurance-trained (ET; n = 10) group. EDL muscle degeneration and regeneration were induced by two subcutaneous injections of a snake toxin.

Role of weight-bearing function on expression of myosin isoforms during regeneration of rat soleus muscles.

The expression of myosin isoforms was studied in regenerated rat soleus muscle during either normal or altered postural activity. Regeneration was induced following injury by venom from the Notechis scutatus scutatus snake. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that, in regenerating soleus muscle after 3 wk of hindlimb suspension, nearly all fibers reacted positively with the myosin heavy chain (MHC) antibody associated with fast-twitch muscle fibers (fast MHC).

Changes in dietary protein intake fail to prevent decrease in muscle growth induced by severe hypoxia in rats.

Muscle growth, fiber size, muscle and liver glycogen, plasma hormones, and muscle glutamine concentration were evaluated in rats chronically exposed (26 days) to a simulated hypobaric altitude (HA; 6,000 m) and fed diets of varying protein concentrations (10, 20, or 40 g protein/100 g of dry matter; LP, MP, and HP, respectively). Values were compared with those measured in animals maintained under normobaric conditions and either fed ad libitum (SL groups) or pair fed equivalent quantities of food consumed by HA animals (PF groups). There was marked anorexia in response to HA exposure for all protein diets (P < 0.

Effects of chronic low frequency stimulation on structural and metabolic properties of hindlimb suspended rat soleus muscle.

The use of chronic low frequency stimulations (CLFS, 10 Hz bipolar current 8 h.day-1) as a countermeasure against unweighting-induced muscle alterations was investigated in rat soleus muscle during 21 days of hindlimb suspension (HS). It was shown that CLFS was able to minimize the soleus muscle atrophy induced by suspension (-29% in stimulated muscles compared to -56% in the non-stimulated soleus muscle).

Structural and biochemical properties of the rat myocardium after 21 days of head-down suspension.

The effects of 21 d of head-down suspension on the biochemical and structural properties of the myocardium were determined in male rats (HDS, n = 10), and compared with control non-suspended animals (C, n = 10). HDS rats were prepared using Morey's tail-suspension model, and maintained at 45 degrees tilt. At the end of the conditioning period, hearts were excised and dissected into right (RV) and left plus intraventricular septum (LV).

Effects of growth hormone on rat skeletal muscle after hindlimb suspension.

To examine the effects of growth hormone (GH) on the preferential atrophy of the soleus muscle (SOL) occurring after hindlimb suspension (HS), two groups of male rats received daily injections of 2 IU.kg-1 body mass of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH). Rats were either suspended by the tail for 21 days (HS-GH, n = 5) or nonsuspended (C-GH, n = 5).

Effects of surface electrostimulation on the structure and metabolic properties in monkey skeletal muscle.

Adaptative changes in skeletal muscle following surface electrical stimulation (SES) were investigated in rhesus monkeys. SES was performed on the triceps brachialis muscle (TB) according to an intermittent pattern. The procedure was carried out for 3 wk, using a current with a medium frequency of 60 Hz normally observed in fast motor axons.

In situ NADH laser fluorimetry during muscle contraction in humans.

The aim of the present study was to use nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, reduced (NADH) fluorimetry, to investigate in situ NADH changes during muscle contraction in humans on an isokinetic dynamometer. Thirteen healthy male subjects each performed one maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) with the knee extensor muscle. The NADH muscle fluorescence was monitored by a double beam laser fluorimeter which uses an optical fibre, percutaneously inserted through a needle into the vastus lateral muscle, to guide the light.

Effects of the ablation of the nucleus pulposus on the vibrational behavior of the lumbosacral hinge.

This study was designed to investigate the respective damping properties of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc during propagation of vibration waves through the osteoligamento-muscular axis of the spine. The study was conducted on a 8-10 kg deeply anesthetized baboon. In the first surgical phase five accelerometers were implanted in the first sacral vertebra and on the anterior side of the four lower lumbar vertebrae.